VENICE — The Venice City Council unanimously approved $11.94 million for expanding City Hall and constructing a new Fire Station 51 on Tuesday.
The new fire station is being designed as a two-story, 11,000- to 13,000-square-foot, three-bay station with storage space, a lounge, sleeping quarters, a kitchen and a conference room that would be open for public meetings.
It would also be built to withstand winds accompanying a Category 5 hurricane.
As part of the expansion, City Hall would gain almost 4,800 square feet of additional space. ADA upgrades will be made to bathrooms, and additional meeting space will be provided for the public both in City Hall and at the new fire station.
The project will proceed in three phases: construction of the new generator and chiller system; demolition of the old fire station and construction of the building department annex; then interior City Hall renovation work.